The launch of the Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant under the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 has been officially announced today by Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Senator Pippa Hackett. This grant aims to provide essential support to forestry contractors and timber hauliers in acquiring new forest machinery that will enhance environmental performance.
The grant will fund up to four projects annually, with each project eligible for a maximum of €50,000 in financial assistance. However, additional projects may be considered for grant aid within the year’s budget constraints. Minister Hackett emphasized that the grant will facilitate the procurement of modern, efficient, and specialized machinery necessary for forest operations.
In her statement, Minister Hackett highlighted the importance of the new machinery supported by the scheme, emphasizing its efficiency, operator safety, and its contribution to responsible and sustainable forest management. She also noted that innovative forest machinery solutions for tree clearance and extraction, particularly in areas affected by ash dieback disease, will be eligible for funding under the grant.
Under the Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant, financial aid will be provided at a maximum rate of 65% on the accepted net cost of capital investments, with a minimum investment threshold of €5,000 excluding VAT. The grant aid level considered will not exceed €50,000 excluding VAT. Applications are open to professional forestry harvesting and transport contractors with a minimum of two years of experience.
Applications can be submitted via email to [email protected] until the closing date on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Eligible sustainable forest harvesting machinery includes innovative solutions for tree clearance and extraction on reconstitution sites, machinery that enhances safety, fuel efficiency, and environmental performance, among others.
The range of eligible machinery includes high lead cable systems with an operating range of 150-200m, skyline cable systems with an operating range exceeding 300m, gravity cable systems suitable for steep slopes with an operating range below 300m, low ground pressure tracked mobile equipment optimized for peat soils and steep slopes, and winch systems designed for use on steep slopes to support conventional equipment.
Moreover, auto load tensioning systems on timber trucks are eligible for funding to improve operator safety, road safety, and the sustainability of timber transport. The Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027 comprises three modules, each aimed at enhancing different aspects of the forestry sector.
Module 1 focuses on supporting the purchase and installation of central tire inflation systems for forestry transport vehicles and will open for applications shortly. Module 2 provides investment aid for the development of the forest tree nursery sector, with a third round of support set to open for applications in the coming weeks.
Lastly, Module 3, the Sustainable Forest Harvesting Machinery Grant, aims to support the acquisition of new forest machinery that enhances environmental performance. The specification document and application form for the scheme can be accessed on gov.ie under the ‘Innovative Forest Technology Scheme 2023-2027’.
